Horgan The Third New Cap.

19 June 2003 08:47am

Among the four changes that coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made for the game against Samoa, wing Anthony Horgan becomes the third player to win a first cap on this tour.

Among the four changes that coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made for the game against Samoa, wing Anthony Horgan becomes the third player to win a first cap on this tour. And there is the possibility that Aiden McCullen and Paul Shields will also join the list of new caps as they are named on the bench for Friday's game.

Horgan's elevation is well deserved. He has been knocking on the door for a considerable time now and only injury has delayed his opportunity to show what he can do at this level.

He looked certain to make his senior international at the end of last season when he was named in the tour squad for the trip to New Zealand. However, he broke a bone in his hand two days before Munster's Heineken Cup final appearance and that scuppered any thoughts of playing for his country.

Horgan replaces Tyrone Howe for this game with the Irish management obviously keen to examine the extent of their options in that position.

Girvan Dempsey is back in the side having missed the Tonga game through sickness and he will be anxious to exorcise the memory of a less than impressive game in the opening tour match against Australia.

In the pack, Marcus Horan comes back into the front row and his Munster team-mate Alan Quinlan is preferred to Kieron Dawson while Eric Miller has made a quick recovery from the injury he picked up in a stamping incident against Tonga.Miller didn't in fact have his nose broken in that incident as was initially reported.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.